This Black History Month, the Lakewood Cultural Center becomes a gathering place for sound, story, and soul—presenting two powerful performances that honor the depth, innovation, and living legacy of Black artistry. From the genre-defying harmonies of Kings Return to the jazz-infused poetry of Langston Hughes brought to life by the Ron McCurdy Quartet, February in Lakewood offers a rich, resonant celebration of Black history as a continuing creative force.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., the acclaimed a cappella quartet Kings Return takes the stage at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway. Blending gospel, R&B, jazz, and pop with a classical foundation, the Dallas-based group delivers harmony-driven music that defies easy categorization. Often compared to Take 6 and Boyz II Men, Kings Return stands apart for the ease and generosity of its sound—four voices moving as one, creating moments of joy, reflection, and transcendent beauty.

Just days later, on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m., the celebration continues with The Langston Hughes Project: Ask Your Mama (12 Moods for Jazz), featuring the Ron McCurdy Quartet and narrated by Colorado Public Radio’s Kabin Thomas. This dynamic multimedia concert brings Hughes’ groundbreaking poem suite vividly to life through spoken word, jazz, and projected imagery, connecting the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights era, and today’s cultural conversations.

The Langston Hughes Project extends beyond the stage, supported in part by a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that expands its educational and community impact. Youth spoken word artists participate in workshops and a competition, with selected poets performing as the concert’s opening act alongside the McCurdy Quartet. The accompanying exhibition, Words Matter, fills the North Gallery with visual art inspired by language and literature and is free and open to the public during regular Cultural Center hours.

Both performances are part of the Lakewood Cultural Center Presents spring season. Tickets and season information are available at Lakewood.org/LCCP, by calling 303-987-7845, or by visiting the box office at 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO.

Together, these events form a multifaceted Black History Month celebration—one that lifts voices, bridges generations, and invites the community to listen deeply. At the Lakewood Cultural Center, Black history is not framed as something distant or finished, but as a living chorus—harmonizing, improvising, and continuing to shape the story we share.